5th December 2022: A Week in Parliament

Small Business Saturday

As part of this annual campaign, this time, I opted to highlight businesses in and around John Finnie Street. At times, too many of us pass through John Finnie Street in our cars on the one-way system rather than shopping on foot. There is a raft of businesses on what was built as a prestigious Victorian Street. I got a whole range of butcher meat at Faulds' The Butcher, including their award-winning black pudding. I pooped into George Tannahill’s to look for furniture and then Sinforiani Bros in West George Street. The latter shop always has a fine array of whisky, gin and wine. There are also books to browse and a range of Italian produce - I always come out with more purchases than intended!

The Proclaimers

On Saturday I was lucky enough to take in The Proclaimers gig at the Grand Hall. They were top class and the atmosphere was great. The atmosphere spread to the town centre with many people making a good night of it. There is no doubt the town centre as a whole gets a boost when headline acts play. In keeping with the Small Business Saturday theme, I opted to eat out at “Exotic Kitchen”, Kilmarnock’s newest (Indian) restaurant - a fantastic evening all in.

Puppy Smuggling

I have signed a cross-party letter in association with the Dogs Trust regarding the illegal Puppy Smuggling trade and the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. This is legislation that had stalled and needs to be reintroduced to parliament. The Dogs Trust have identified that pregnant dogs are now being smuggled in which is clearly traumatic for these dogs. If you are purchasing a dog, always check the reputation of the breeder and ensure that you get to see the conditions they are being raised in and, of course, proof of mother. The timing of the letter is of course also aimed to tie in with the annual campaign to remind people “a dog is for life, not just Christmas”.

Ian Blackford

The SNP Group Leader at Westminster has decided he was stepping aside from that position. I pay tribute to the work Ian has undertaken in that time. He has faced four Tory Prime Ministers in that time and two Labour Leaders. He regularly challenged the UK Government and remained firm on the problems with Brexit, while the Labour Party has moved to mimic the Tories on Brexit for fear of upsetting voters. All polling evidence points to people thinking that Brexit was a mistake and that there is support for re-joining the single market. So, wholesale changes that will improve the economy will actually be supported by the wider electorate. The issue is that Labour and the Tories obsessively focus on appealing to the swing voters in the former “red wall” seats. It is an incoherent way to form a strategy and I am so grateful the SNP has had strong leadership over this period. I know our new Westminster Group Leader will continue from where Ian left off.